How to Embrace Slow Living When Life is Super Stressful
The recent pandemic has thrust us all into chaos. Life is so stressful right now – so it’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves. For you, this could mean eating a balanced diet, exercising and starting a skincare routine, or setting boundaries, saying no and doing a digital detox. By practicing slow living and prioritising self-care, your mind and body will become better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.
What is Slow Living?
Slow living is a mindset and a movement aimed at reducing stress to boost health and happiness. It encourages you to take life at a more leisurely pace, be more present and address your needs. It’s an antidote to our 24/7 hustle culture and the burnout that causes. We all know living life in the fast lane negatively impacts physical, mental and emotional well being; slow living is a way of applying the brakes when things get too much.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care means different things to different people. At its core, though, is the idea of taking time each day to focus on your health and well being.
Self-care goes hand-in-hand with the notion of slow living. It can be as simple as performing a daily skincare routine, or something more involved such as going for a professional massage. It can mean relaxing with a book or decluttering a room. Self-care can be yoga, travel or talking with a friend on the phone – whatever nurtures your mind, body and spirit.
Why is Self-Care Important?
Practicing self-care brings balance; it’s the calm amongst the chaos of modern life. Before you shrug off self-care as just another buzzword, take a moment to consider what your brain and body need. Do you wish you had more energy to tackle your to-do list, or would you like to channel your stress into productivity? Is your physical health suffering, or are you emotionally drained by your job and lifestyle
How You Can Practice Slow Living and Self-Care
If you feel guilty or undeserving of enjoying some you-time, remember that self-care isn’t selfish and embracing slow living doesn’t mean you’re lazy. These acts are vital for health, happiness and supporting positive relationships with yourself and others. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
So where should you begin? Pampering your skin with natural products is a simple but powerful starting point. Mindfully removing the day’s dirt then massaging in a wholesome cream or oil will not only improve your skin but also help you de-stress. If your skincare products are enriched with natural essential oils, you’ll be pampering your senses too.
Take our lavender massage candle for example – it’s packed with natural lavender to calm fraught minds, soothe dry skin and ease tense muscles. Make it a part of your daily skincare routine, breathing deeply as you light the candle and focusing on every motion as you massage in the luxurious oils. You’ll soon realise how important self-care is to managing stress – and how good it makes you feel!
If you practice self-care, what do you like to do? Does slow living appeal to you, or are you a can’t-stop-won’t-stop kind of person? Let us know in the comments below!